Electrical switch

Abstract

An electrical switch is disclosed and includes a tensioning lever which, in the switched-on state of the switch, assumes a tensioning lever position tensioned by spring tension, and a locking device which can lock the tensioning lever into the tensioned tensioning lever position. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the locking device includes a rocker lever, which is attached rotatably to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing, and a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point, which rests in the locked state on the rocker lever and in this way prevents the pivoting of the tensioning lever and—after an unlocking of the locking device—pivots away from the rocker lever and, in doing so, turns or can at least turn the rocker lever.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical switch, comprising:
 a tensioning lever, configured to assume, in a switched-on state of the electrical switch, a tensioning lever position tensioned by spring tension; and 
 a locking device, configured to lock the tensioning lever in the tensioned tensioning lever position, the locking device including
 a rocker lever, attached rotatably to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing, and 
 a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point on an uppermost edge of the pawl, configured to rest on the rocker lever and prevent the pivoting of the tensioning lever in the locked state and, configured to, after an unlocking of the locking device, pivot away from the rocker lever to turn the rocker lever around the rotary bearing. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electrical switch of  claim 1 , wherein an imaginary straight line passing through the rotary bearing and a contact point, at which the pivotable pawl rests on the rocker lever, is at a distance from the pivot point of the pivotable pawl, so that the rocker lever generates a torque on the pivotable pawl that wants to pivot the pivotable pawl away from the rocker lever. 
     
     
       3. The electrical switch of  claim 1 , wherein the properties of the outer surface of the rocker lever are such that, when the pawl pivots away from the rocker lever, a positive fit or adhesion friction prevents the pivotable pawl sliding on the outer surface and a rotational movement of the rocker lever around the rotary bearing is instigated. 
     
     
       4. The electrical switch of  claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a tripping shaft which, in the locked state of the locking device, rests with a stop on the pawl and prevents the pawl from pivoting away from the rocker lever. 
     
     
       5. The electrical switch of  claim 1 , wherein a pin is attached to the rocker lever which is guided in a motion link of the tensioning lever, whereby the guide link limits the pivot angle of the rocker lever around the tensioning lever. 
     
     
       6. The electrical switch of  claim 5 , wherein the guide link is formed by a hole or a slot. 
     
     
       7. An electrical switch, comprising:
 a tensioning lever, configured to assume, in a switched-on state of the electrical switch, a tensioning lever position tensioned by spring tension; and 
 a locking device, configured to lock the tensioning lever in the tensioned tensioning lever position, the locking device including
 a rocker lever, attached rotatably to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing, and 
 a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point, configured to rest on the rocker lever and prevent the pivoting of the tensioning lever in the locked state and, configured to, after an unlocking of the locking device, pivot away from the rocker lever to turn the rocker lever around the rotary bearing; 
 
 wherein the switch includes a tripping shaft which, in the locked state of the locking device, rests with a stop on the pawl and prevents the pawl from pivoting away from the rocker lever; and wherein the locking device includes a spring which rests with one spring end on the tripping shaft and with another spring end on the pawl and generates a torque which is in opposition to the torque that the rocker lever exerts on the pawl. 
 
     
     
       8. The electrical switch as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the spring force of the spring is dimensioned such that the torque exerted by the spring is less than the torque exerted by the rocker lever. 
     
     
       9. The electrical switch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch lever, which makes it possible for an operator to switch the switch on and off, the switch lever being connected to the tensioning lever. 
 
     
     
       10. A locking device for an electrical switch to lock a tensioning lever of the electrical switch into a tensioned tensioning lever position, comprising:
 a rocker lever, rotatably attachable to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing; and 
 a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point at an uppermost edge of the pawl and configured to rest on the rocker lever to prevent pivoting of the tensioning lever in a locked state, and configured to, after the unlocking of the locking device, pivot away from the rocker lever and to turn, or at least being capable of turning, the rocker lever around the rotary bearing. 
 
     
     
       11. A method for locking and unlocking a locking device of an electrical switch, comprising:
 locking the locking device, using a pawl which is pivotable around a pivot point at an uppermost edge of the pawl into a position in which the pawl rests on a rocker lever, and being rotatable around a rotary bearing, attached to a tensioning lever, to prevent the pivoting of the tensioning lever; and 
 unlocking the locking device, using the pivotable pawl to pivot away from the rocker lever wherein, during the pivoting away of the pivotable pawl, the pivotable pawl turns the rocker lever around the rotary bearing attached to the tensioning lever. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrical switch of  claim 2 , wherein the properties of the outer surface of the rocker lever are such that, when the pawl pivots away, a positive fit or adhesion friction prevents the pivotable pawl sliding on the outer surface and a rotational movement of the rocker lever around the rotary bearing is instigated. 
     
     
       13. The electrical switch of  claim 2 , wherein the switch includes a tripping shaft which, in the locked state of the locking device, rests with a stop on the pawl and prevents the pawl from pivoting away from the rocker lever. 
     
     
       14. The electrical switch of  claim 2 , wherein a pin is attached to the rocker lever which is guided in a motion link of the tensioning lever, whereby the guide link limits the pivot angle of the rocker lever around the tensioning lever.